How to make the most of your business networking?

Networking is a fundamental part of marketing within a business, it
enables you to generate new clients and make new connections. If you want your
business to grow read our tips below!

Our top tips for business networking

Strategy:
Don’t go to a networking without a clear strategy in mind of what you want to
achieve. You will spend your time socialising, maybe with people you already
know, and doing nothing to progress the needs of your small business.

Persistence:
How do you measure your success at networking events? Most will measure their
success based on whether they obtained a new client, and if they don’t they
will cease attending the networking event. This is a mistake. In order for your
strategy to work you must persist! By moving on to a different event, or
intermittently attending different ones, you are no longer following your
initial strategy.

USP:
Find a way for you to portray to others what sets you apart from the rest of
the people in the room. Whether you give a presentation at an event, or have a
unique business card, you don’t want to get lost in a sea of people who could
all be selling what you’re selling.

Connect
online:
After you’ve been to an event you may expect enquiries to come
flooding in, networking can be a slower game than this. To ensure your efforts
at the networking event aren’t quickly forgotten, ensure you keep in touch with
your prospects online. Either through Twitter
or Facebook
or
the larger business network - Linkedin
.
If you don’t have any of these profiles for your business I suggest you get at
least one immediately!

I love the summer for sitting back and reflecting on the
year. Thinking back to the dark days of
winter and forward to the joy of Christmas time. Now is the ideal time to review how your
business is going and as you revive yourself through holidays and sunshine
you’ll be well placed to make any changes come the autumn.